Officer shoots Pinon Hills man

Monday

Nov 3, 2008 at 7:11 AMNov 3, 2008 at 7:13 AM

FROM STAFF REPORTS

PINON HILLS • A Pinon Hills man deemed possibly suicidal led deputies on a high-speed freeway chase that ended in an officer-involved shooting, according to officials with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

The incident began hours earlier when deputies from the Victor Valley sheriff's station were called to the man's home in the 2300 block of Olivera Road in Pinon Hills on a domestic battery call, officials said.

The man, Paul Vincent Prindle, 46, was no longer at the home and deputies were told he was armed and may be suicidal, officials said.

Deputies located Prindle in his vehicle near Phelan Road at about 8:06 p.m. and pulled him over, officials said.

Prindle got out of his car while pointing a gun at himself and fired the weapon several times in the air and toward the open desert, officials said.

He then got back into his car and the chase began, first south on Highway 138, then to southbound Interstate 15.

Prindle continued speeding west on I-15 before stopping at a gas station on Haven Avenue north of Interstate 10.

He then got out of the car, armed with a handgun, and an officer from the CHP shot him, officials said.

Prindle was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for treatment and will be booked into its jail ward for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and felony evading arrest.

The battery that occurred in Pinon Hills will be submitted to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Homicide Detail, was requested to conduct the officer-involved shooting investigation under a mutual agreement between the sheriff and the CHP.

Anyone with information regarding this case can contact Detective Jason Radelef for Sgt. Tony DeCecio at Homicide Detail, (909) 387-3589. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call WE TIP at (800) 78-CRIME.